NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion volleyball could not slow down Arkansas State on Friday as the Monarchs dropped their first match of the weekend, 3-0 to the Red Wolves.
With the loss, ODU is now 5-21 overall and 2-13 against Sun Belt opponents.
Arkansas State 3, ODU 0
The Red Wolves (18-8, 11-4) took an early 5-1 lead in the first set, but a couple of kills by Elisa Maggi kept the Monarchs within a few points at 6-4. The hosts put together a 7-1 run to pull away 17-8. They then earned four straight points to win the set, 25-14.
In the second set, Taylor Motes and Emma Schelah teamed up for a block to even the score at 2-2. Rita Benidio and Schelah followed with a couple of kills as ODU was out front, 4-2. However, A-State rattled off seven unanswered points to seize control, 9-4. Another 4-0 push by the home team made it a 15-7 deficit, and the Monarchs struggled to come up with a response. A 25-15 final gave the Red Wolves a 2-0 lead in the match.
Arkansas State earned the first eight points of the third set and never looked back. Benidio converted an attack to finally put ODU on the board, but the Monarchs were unable to find their way back into the set as the Red Wolves took the match in straight sets with a 25-7 tally.
Maggi led ODU with eight kills and added three digs and one assist to her match totals. Motes and Benidio scored four kills each and Wiktoria Zagumny tallied 17 assists. The defensive effort was led by Kate Kilpatrick with 14 digs while Motes, Schelah, and Zagumny made one block each.
There were just two ties and only two lead changes, all in the second set.
Up Next
The two teams are back on the court tomorrow for the final match of the regular season. First serve from First National Bank Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.